12-MAID UP

his head. It exactly matched his own hair and it felt strange to feel the soft hair fall over his ears and warm his neck. The wig was perfectly styled, with medium length hair, attractively set, and Mary put some hair spray on to keep it neat.

"What costume will you be wearing?" asked John. Mary smiled mysteriously and said, "That is going to be the biggest surprise of your life, darling Jill"

Leading him to the mirror, "Jill" could not believe his eyes. There stood a beautiful woman, well groomed, superbly dressed, with an exciting figure. Young looking and yet mature, Jill had an enviable waist and soft female facial features.

Mary had given him nice looking shoes with 4 inch heels, which showed off his ankles to advantage. The way his legs looked was just remarkable he thought, as he turned around to see what he looked like from the other side. The dress was just the right length, showing 1/4 inch of knee. Even his derriere looked like a girl's.

Mary then said; "I want you to stay dressed this way tonight, Jill, so you can become accustomed to the clothing and the shoes. Let's go downstairs.

Mary had a funny kind of look on her face, which John did not understand at first.

"You look so much like a girl, that I bet not even your mother could tell the difference." And the beauty is, all you have to do is use your nickname. Jill is a perfectly acceptable girl's name." Having arrived downstairs Mary said, "Now that you have become a woman, there is no need for me to do all the work." As she produced a white pinafore, she said, "You set the table and make sure not to get any spots on your new dress."

As she tied it on him, she remembered that this was just like their previous high-school days.

"The party is tomorrow and I want you to come home early so you can dress properly. I will not have time to help you, except maybe with your makeup."

The next day John did come home a little early and Mary gave him instructions similar to those of the previous night. John went ahead and just before 7 o'clock Mary came upstairs to inspect him. Everything was in order and Mary complimented him on how well he had dressed himself so properly. Mary applied the make up and gave John a string of pearls which he adjusted around his neck; they looked just right on the square high neckline. On an impulse he placed Mary's wristwatch on his left wrist.

"I wonder what the others will be wearing" said John. Mary just smiled.

Just then the doorbell rang. "I'll get it and let our guests in," Mary responded, "while you make sure in front of the mirror that everything is as it should be." Mary took a last look at John as she

TV FICTION CLASSICS -13

left the room. John could see a very pleased smile, almost triumphant, both admiring and at the same time revealing an "I thought so" look.

"Come on down any time you are ready," called Mary as she descended the stairs to greet her guests.

After a while, Mary called from downstairs, "Hurry down Gloria, we are thirsty."

"Gloria?" "Gloria?" "Who is Gloria?" John asked himself. The only one he knew by that name was his oldest sister in California. Suddenly a horrible thought occurred to him. "Why was Mary not in a costume? Had she forgotten or just rushed for time?"

From the top of the stairs he called Mary. "What about your costume, Mary?" he whispered to her. Mary made believe as if she did not hear him, and said loudly, "Ah, there you are Gloria." She took his hand and together they entered the drawing room.

John suddenly stiffened and almost fainted. There were several of his friends and their wives and NOBODY WAS IN COSTUME. As if in a trance, he heard Mary say, "Friends, I would like you all to meet Jill's sister Gloria on a visit from California."

As the gentlemen rose, John felt himself pulled forward. Mechanically he smiled as he was introduced to the ladies and his friends, fearing that everyone would instantly start laughing and jeering. But everyone acted as if they met him for the first time, the ladies commenting on his beautiful dress and his best friend complimenting "Gloria" on her beauty and saying how remarkable the family resemblance was.

Mary just stood there smiling. As John was seated, quickly checking the other ladies to see how they had draped their skirts and how they were holding their legs. He sat as they did, knees and ankles modestly together.

Mary just smirked at him, as if she really enjoyed the dirty trick she had played on him. John gave her a look that must have bent her spine. Coldly she just turned around and let John shift for himself as well as he could, making small talk with his friends' wives. "Too bad, John was called away on a business trip just when his sister is visiting," said one of the wives.

"Yes," said John, but I hope he'll be returning soon."

After a few drinks John began to feel a little more relaxed and when they entered the dining room he began to feel at ease and thought, "Well, we might as well make the best of it, but I'll never forgive Mary for this."

He noticed that Mary had hired a maid to serve for the evening, neatly attired in a black uniform and white organdy apron. "Well, at least I don't have to do the dishes tonight," thought "Jill".

As the evening went on, John began to feel more natural and found himself saying feminine things and making female small talk